下咽癌喉癌术后广泛下咽及颈段食管缺损修复方法的比较

目的：探讨4种方法Ⅰ期修复下咽癌及晚期喉癌术后广泛下咽及颈段食管缺损的适应证及治疗效果。方法：用健侧喉黏膜瓣修复部分咽部缺损12例(伴颈段食管切除术2例)．胸大肌皮瓣修复部分咽部缺损6例，游离前臂皮瓣修复保留喉的部分下咽切除术2例．游离空肠重建全下咽和食管上段缺损1例。结果：术中无一例死亡，术后无修复组织坏死．全部组织瓣存活。采用健侧喉黏膜瓣修复者，仅1例术前放疗的患者术后发生咽漏；胸大肌皮瓣修复者，1例发生咽漏。全部病例愈合后均可进普通饮食。随访9～84个月，4例出现吞咽梗阻。结论：下咽癌缺损的修复方法各有侧重。肿瘤的部位和大小是选择修复方法最重要的因素；其次，也应仔细考虑减少并发症。     

晚期喉癌下咽癌术后缺损的修复

目的总结分析晚期喉癌下咽癌术后的舌部、咽喉部、颈段食管及颈部皮肤等组织缺损的修复经验。方法2005年1月~2012年12月共手术治疗喉癌、下咽癌患者177例,男147例,女30例。年龄42~75岁,中位年龄51岁。其中首次治疗的IV期喉癌49例、IV期下咽癌44例、复发喉癌55例和复发下咽癌29例。原发灶切除：全喉+全下咽切除88例,全喉+全下咽+舌根切除29例,全喉+全下咽+颈段食管切除33例,全喉+全下咽+颈段食管切除+颈部皮肤切除26例,全舌+全下咽+全喉+颈段食管切除+颈部皮肤切除1例。缺损类型及修复材料：下咽近环周缺损120例患者行单一皮瓣修复,其中颏下皮瓣25例、胸大肌肌皮瓣53例、股前外侧皮瓣42例。下咽环周缺损57例患者行单一皮瓣修复下咽环周缺损15例,包括股前外侧皮瓣9例和胸大肌肌皮瓣6例;行游离空肠瓣修复下咽环周缺损合并口咽、颈段食道缺损者21例;联合应用游离空肠瓣、胸大肌肌皮瓣或（和）股前外侧皮瓣修复下咽环周缺损合并舌、口咽、颈段食道缺损或（和）颈部皮肤组织缺损者10例;采用胃上徙管胃成形修复下咽合并全食道缺损11例。术后放疗95例,组织瓣无放射性坏死。结果一次手术成功率92.1%（163/177）;修复瓣坏死14例患者行再次修复手术成功,包括空肠4例,另一侧胸大肌皮瓣6例,另一侧游离股前外侧皮瓣4例。咽瘘经换药后愈合6例。无手术死亡病例。咽部及造瘘口复发13例（再手术7例,放化疗6例）,食管二重癌5例予以放化疗,颈部淋巴结复发17例（再手术9例,放化疗8例）。肺转移6例,肝转移2例,多个远处转移4例,局部复发并远处转移7例。局部复发死亡23例,远处转移死亡12例。全组3年生存率50.4%;5年生存率39.4%。结论①晚期和复发的喉癌及下咽癌术后软组织缺损,需根据患者的缺损范围和身体状况选择自体修复材料;②复杂的多重组织和器官的缺损需要用多种自身材料叠加修复以重建上消化道;③密切观察游离组织瓣的血运状况,及早处理坏死的组织瓣并重新修复,以确保伤口尽快愈合。     

下咽颈食段食管环周缺损修复方法的探讨

目的探讨不同手术方法修复重建下咽颈食管环周缺损的适应证，对不同方法的优缺点进行比较。方法对1993年6月至2006年6月期间收治的72例下咽颈食管区肿瘤进行手术切除，并根据肿瘤切除术后缺损的范围，采用胸大肌肌皮瓣、喉管、游离空肠、游离前臂皮瓣和胃上提咽胃吻合5种方法对肿瘤切除术后所致的下咽颈食管环周缺损进行一期修复重建，并重点对所有患者术后的吞咽功能恢复情况进行观察和客观评估。结果胸大肌肌皮瓣修复重建31例，喉管代下咽颈食管8例，游离空肠移植12例，游离前臂皮瓣移植4例，胃上提咽胃吻合术17例。其中15例患者出现了不同程度的并发症，包括创口感染、咽漏、皮瓣部分坏死、胃壁部分坏死和食管吻合口狭窄等，除1例死亡外，其他患者经处理全部治愈。本组患者术后吞咽功能恢复满意，除2例食管吻合口狭窄患者可以进半流食外，其余患者均恢复了正常的进食功能。平均随访时间为1．6年，术后2年生存率为45．3％。结论下咽颈段食管癌切除术后所致的环周缺损可依据缺损的范围和患者的情况选择不同的修复方法，只要适应证掌握得当均可获得满意的修复重建效果。     

股前外侧皮瓣卷状皮管在晚期下咽癌术后环周缺损中的应用

目的探讨股前外侧皮瓣卷状皮管在晚期下咽癌术后环周缺损中的临床应用价值。方法回顾性分析2016年1月至2022年4月福建医科大学附属第二医院收治的42例晚期下咽癌患者的临床资料, 男41例, 女1例, 年龄33～82岁, 所有患者均行手术治疗, 全喉+全下咽切除20例, 全喉+全下咽+部分舌根切除8例, 全喉+全下咽+颈段食管切除9例, 全喉+全下咽+部分舌根+颈段食管切除5例。肿瘤切除术后遗留的下咽环形缺损均行股前外侧皮瓣卷状皮管一期修复, 观察术后皮瓣愈合状况、伤口愈合情况、吞咽功能状态。随访肿瘤复发情况及生存状况。结果下咽缺损的长度为7～18 cm, 切取的皮瓣大小为6 cm×9.5 cm～10 cm×20 cm。41例皮瓣成活, 1例皮瓣出现坏死, 皮瓣成活率为97.6%。40例皮瓣血管蒂吻合一条动脉、一条静脉, 2例吻合一条动脉、两条静脉血管。术后5例出现颈部伤口感染, 2例出现咽瘘。术后3个月复查, 31例患者可进普食, 9例进半流质饮食, 2例进流质饮食。随访6～65个月, 14例(33.3%)患者术后出现复发转移, 原发部位复发4例(9.5%), 颈部淋巴结复发6例(14...     

下咽及颈段食管缺损修复的供区选择和临床评价

目的：探索下咽及颈段食管缺损的分类及不同类型缺损的修复方法选择原则和临床疗效。方法：2007—01—2012-06期间共行下咽及颈段食管缺损修复术39例。根据下咽及颈段食管缺损程度分为环周／近环周缺损组（A组,23例）和部分缺损组（B组,16例）;根据颈部血管状况分为颈部血管状况不良组（22例）和颈部血管状况良好组（17例）。供区选择主要根据缺损程度和颈部血管状况决定。A组采用股前外侧皮瓣8例、胃上提6例、桡侧前臂皮瓣3例、空肠瓣和胸大肌肌皮瓣各3例;B组采用舌骨下肌肌皮瓣8例、桡侧前臂皮瓣3例、胸大肌肌皮瓣5例。观察皮瓣的存活率、手术并发症、功能效果和肿瘤治疗的临床转归。结果：全组并发症发生率为12．8％（5／39）。A组空肠瓣、股前外侧皮瓣、胸大肌肌皮瓣坏死各1例,皮瓣坏死均发生在颈部血管状况不良组;B组发生咽瘘1例,无皮瓣坏死。全组2例未能经口进食,其余病例无进食障碍;保留喉功能16例均发音良好。全组2年、3年总生存率分别为72．1％和65．2％。结论：下咽及颈段食管缺损修复供区的选择应根据缺损程度、颈部血管状况和组织瓣的特性综合分析,个体化应用。个体化下咽及颈段食管修复可获得满意的临床疗效。     

游离股前外侧穿支皮瓣重建头颈肿瘤术后缺损

目的 探讨应用游离股前外侧穿支皮瓣重建头颈肿瘤切除术后组织缺损的方法及其效果.方法 2006年7月～2011年12月采用游离股前外侧穿支皮瓣修复头颈恶性肿瘤切除术后组织缺损75例,男52例,女23例;最大年龄80岁,最小年龄24岁,其中舌癌42例,颊癌20例,软腭癌2例,扁桃体癌9例,眶部肿瘤1例,外耳道癌1例.组织缺损范围8cm×5cm～18cm×10cm,病程4～24个月.结果 75例应用股前外侧穿支皮瓣游离移植修复,仅2例股前外侧皮瓣远端因静脉回流障碍发生部分坏死,其余均成活,皮瓣成活率97.3％,3例供区部分植皮未成活,延期愈合.术后随访6～24个月,肿瘤无复发,供区外观平整,瘢痕不明显,受区吞咽及言语功能良好,修复重建效果满意.结论 游离股前外侧穿支皮瓣制作方便,对供区损伤小,厚薄适中,适宜修复头颈肿瘤切除术后组织缺损.     

游离股前外侧皮瓣移植修复头颈部缺损二例

晚期头颈肿瘤切除后的组织缺损广泛，理想的整复是一期完成。山东省肿瘤防治研究院应用游离股前外侧皮瓣修复头颈部缺损2例患者，均效果满意，报道如下。     

下咽、颈段食管癌手术切除后保留喉功能与发声重建

目的：探讨下咽、颈段食管癌根治术患者喉功能保留与发声重建的手术方法。方法：对16例下咽、颈段食管癌患者手术切除肿瘤后，实施保留全喉及部分喉切除喉功能重建；全喉切除后Blom-Singer 1期、2期发声重建术，同时下咽及颈段食管缺损分别采用胃－咽吻合、前臂游离皮瓣、胸大肌肌皮瓣、胸三角皮瓣、胸锁乳突肌肌皮瓣，颈前肌皮瓣、喉气管粘膜瓣等方法进行整复。保留全喉8例，保留部分喉喉重建3例，全喉切除后行Blom-Singer发声重建1期4例，2期1例。结果：16例中除1例术后14d心脏病变发死亡外，均恢复了吞咽功能，13例恢复发声功能，6例恢复了全喉功能，2例恢复了部分喉功能（不能拔管）。5例行Blom-Singer发声重建者，均发声成功。结论：依据患者病变部位、肿瘤分期、身体状况、年龄等因素，切除肿瘤后采用不同的手术方法行喉功能保留及发声重建，可提高患者术后生存质量。     

胸大肌肌皮瓣卷筒在下咽颈段食管环周缺损修复中的应用

目的 探讨胸大肌肌皮瓣卷筒在晚期喉咽及颈段食管肿瘤切除术后环周缺损修复中应用的可行性及远期疗效.方法 回顾性分析2004年12月至2008年10月对30例头颈鳞癌原发灶肿瘤切除后出现下咽和颈段食管环周缺损的患者选择行胸大肌肌皮瓣卷筒修复的临床资料.其中下咽癌22例,颈段食管癌7例,喉癌术后放疗后复发累及下咽1例.术前接受放疗者5例,外院手术后复发者3例.采用全喉全下咽切除者12例,全喉全下咽切除颈段食管切除者18例,均行胸大肌肌皮瓣卷筒修复.结果 术后咽瘘4例,其中2例有术前放疗史,2例有糖尿病史,均换药治愈.2例患者出现吻合口狭窄,均位于口咽部上吻合口处,经反复扩张后缓解,术后吞咽功能均恢复.全部患者均进行随诊,术后随访时间8～56个月,中位随访时间18个月.以Kaplan-Meier法计算生存率,1年及3年生存率分别为71.4%及42.5%.结论 胸大肌肌皮瓣卷筒修复晚期咽喉及颈段食管肿瘤切除后的下咽和颈段食管环周缺损效果可靠.可用于放疗及手术后复发肿瘤切除后环周缺损的修复.     

股前外侧皮瓣修复颊部大面积洞穿性组织缺损

目的探讨应用股前外侧皮瓣修复颊部肿瘤切除术后大面积洞穿性组织缺损的方法及疗效。方法 2006年10月～2009年10月应用游离双皮岛股前外侧穿支皮瓣,Ⅰ期修复颊部肿瘤切除术后大面积洞穿性缺损19例,面颊面皮肤缺损范围8cm×6cm～4cm×4cm,口颊面黏膜缺损范围9cm×7cm～6cm×5cm,所用股前外侧皮瓣面积20cm×8cm～12cm×6cm。结果 19例游离股前外侧穿支皮瓣全部成活,其中18例创面Ⅰ期愈合;1例颊部皮肤面部分坏死,黏膜面成活,经换药后伤口愈合。结论游离股前外侧穿支皮瓣组织量丰富,修复颊部缺损形态与功能保持好,是修复颊部大面积洞穿性缺损的理想皮瓣。     

The role of the anterolateral thigh flap for pharyngoesophageal reconstruction

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the advantages and disadvantages of the anterolateral thigh flap (ALTF) for pharyngoesophageal reconstruction, we assessed this donor site and compared it with the radial forearm free flap (RFFF). DESIGN: Retrospective medical chart review. SETTING: Tertiary care referral center. SUBJECTS: Twenty-three consecutive patients who underwent pharyngoesophageal reconstruction using an ALTF or RFFF. INTERVENTION: Pharyngoesophageal reconstruction. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient medical charts were assessed for age, histopathological diagnosis, preoperative treatment, surgical defect, tracheoesophageal speech, flap survival, donor and recipient site complications, and swallowing function. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients (12 who underwent reconstruction with ALTF and 11 with RFFF) were included in the study. Both donor sites provided adequate tissue for pharyngoesophageal reconstruction; however, the RFFF group demonstrated a higher rate of postoperative donor site complications including skin graft loss and extremity edema and stiffness. Postoperatively, the ALTF group demonstrated no gait disturbance and no donor site complications. All 23 patients in both groups were able to tolerate an unrestricted oral diet; however, 3 patients who underwent reconstruction with an RFFF experienced cervical esophageal stenosis, whereas only 1 patient with an ALTF experienced stenosis. CONCLUSION: In this preliminary series, the ALTF represents an excellent source of tissue for pharyngoesophageal reconstruction and is associated with a lower rate of donor site morbidity and anastomotic stenosis compared with the RFFF donor site.     

Functional outcomes after circumferential pharyngoesophageal reconstruction

OBJECTIVE: To determine functional speech and swallowing outcomes, morbidity, and complication rates after reconstruction of circumferential pharyngoesophageal defects using a jejunal versus an anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 58 patients with circumferential pharyngoesophageal defects, 27 with ALT flap reconstruction, and 31 with jejunal interposition. We compared complication rates, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stays, nutritional intake, number of tracheoesophageal punctures (TEPs) performed, TE speech fluency, and functional use. Modified barium swallow studies assessed swallowing physiology. RESULTS: Patient characteristics were similar. Total flap loss occurred in one (3.7%) patient with an ALT flap and two (6.5%) patients with jejunal interposition (P = 1.000), fistula in two (7.4%) ALT patients and one (3.2%) jejunal patient (P = .5931), and anastomotic stricture in four (15%) ALT patients and six (19.4%) jejunal patients (P = .7371). ICU and hospital stays were greater for jejunal patients (P = .001, <.001, respectively). TEPs were performed in eight jejunal patients and nine ALT patients. Eighty-nine percent of ALT patients and 63% of jejunal patients were fluent, whereas 78% of ALT patients and 25% of jejunal patients used TE speech to communicate. Ninety-one percent of ALT patients and 73% of jejunal patients resumed oral intake (P = .151). The most common causes of dysphagia were impaired tongue base retraction (62% jejunum) and disordered motility (62% jejunum, 67% ALT). CONCLUSIONS: For circumferential pharyngoesophageal reconstruction, the ALT flap results in similar complication rates, but shorter ICU and hospital stays, and better speech and swallowing compared with jejunal reconstruction.     

Lateral thigh free flap for head and neck reconstruction.

OBJECTIVES: To present the technique of lateral thigh free flap reconstruction in the head and neck and review the use of this procedure in 58 head and neck defect reconstructions. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review in the setting of a tertiary, referral, and academic center. METHODS: Retrospective review of patient records in cases of lateral thigh free flap reconstruction for head and neck defects. Records were reviewed for patient age, gender, pathologic findings, type of reconstruction (pharyngoesophageal, glossectomy, oropharyngeal, or external soft tissue defects), recipient and donor-site complications, and flap failure. RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients underwent lateral thigh flap reconstruction from 1984 to 1997. Patient age ranged from 10 to 76 years. Thirty-nine patients were men, and 19 were women. Forty-three flaps were used for pharyngoesophageal reconstruction, nine for glossectomy defects, two for oropharyngeal defects, and four for external, soft tissue defects. All resections were for squamous cell carcinoma, except one case of recurrent hemangiopericytoma. One flap failure occurred from venous thrombosis (1.7%). Forty-two of 43 pharyngoesophageal defects were successfully reconstructed (97.6%). Five temporary salivary leaks were noted, but no frank fistulas occurred. One fistula occurred in the oropharyngeal reconstruction group. Four minor donor-site complications were noted (6.9%). CONCLUSION: This series demonstrates the low donor-site morbidity, as well as the reliability and versatility, of the lateral thigh free flap for head and neck reconstruction.     

游离空肠移植重建下咽及颈段食管112例临床分析

目的 探讨游离空肠修复下咽及颈段食管肿瘤切除术后组织缺损的方法及疗效.方法 回顾性分析1984年10月至2009年10月中国医学科学院肿瘤医院头颈外科112例下咽、颈段食管癌及喉癌复发患者肿瘤切除术后所致下咽环周及颈段食管缺损以游离空肠进行Ⅰ期修复的临床资料.结果 112例患者中,游离空肠坏死6例,游离空肠移植成功率94.6%(106/112);吻合口瘘发生率、吻合口狭窄率分别为8.9%(10/112)、12.5%(12/96);围手术期死亡率1.8%(2/112).除1例围手术期死亡、6例空肠坏死和2例保留喉患者未恢复经口进食外,其余103例患者在术后平均12 d恢复经口进食.结论 游离空肠移植手术成功率高,手术并发症及围手术期死亡率低,吞咽功能恢复快.对颈动脉未受侵,能保证手术安全切缘的患者,建议首选游离空肠修复.

Abstract：

Objective To investigate the results of reconstruction of hypopharyngeai circumferential and cervical esophageal defects with free jejunal transfer. Methods Retrosepective review of 112 patients who underwent pharyngoesophageal reconstruction with free jejunal interposition. Analysis was confined to the patients with advanced hypopharyngeal, esophageal or recurrent laryngeal squamous cell cancer. Kaplan-Meier method was used to identify the accumulative survival rate. Results The free jejunal success rate was 94. 6% ( 106/112). The pharyngocutaneous fistula rate and anastomoses narrow rate were 8. 9% ( 10/112) and 12. 5% ( 12/96) respectively. The perioperative mortality rate was 1. 8% (2/112). Except 1 case of dead, 6 cases with flap failure and 2 cases with laryngeal preservation, other 103 cases had resumed oral feeding. Conclusions The success rate of free jejunal transplation is high and free jejunal interposition is an ideal reconstruction method for patients who have hypopharyngeai circumferential and cervical esophageal defects after tumor resection.     

游离股前外侧穿支血管皮瓣修复上颌骨切除后缺损

目的探讨股前外侧穿支血管皮瓣简称股前外侧皮瓣（anterolateral thigh flap,ATF）,游离移植修复上颌骨切除后缺损的可行性及修复效果。方法回顾性分析18例上颌骨肿瘤患者的临床资料,上颌骨全切除术16例,上颌骨下部切除术2例。全部患者均用ATF I期修复。结果全部病例均移植成功,成功率100%,外形满意率为94%。恶性肿瘤17例,3年生存率为68.8%。结论 ATF可作为上颌骨切除术后修复材料,较好的恢复功能与外形。     

The anterolateral thigh flap: radial forearm's "big brother" for extensive soft tissue head and neck defects

OBJECTIVE: The anterolateral thigh flap has recently been rediscovered in Asia as a perforator flap. The objective of this study was to describe the reliability and donor morbidity of the anterolateral thigh flap for head and neck reconstruction without transmuscular perforator dissection. DESIGN: Consecutive case series by a single surgeon. SETTING: A regional tertiary-referral head, neck, and skull base surgical oncology center. PATIENTS: The first 34 consecutive patients. INTERVENTION: Microvascular reconstruction with an anterolateral thigh free flap. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary insufficiency, partial necrosis, complete necrosis, and donor morbidity rates. RESULTS: Two flaps necrosed partially (6%). No flaps demonstrated primary insufficiency, necrosed completely, or incurred significant donor morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: The anterolateral thigh flap can be reliably harvested without transmuscular perforator dissection and without incurring serious donor morbidity. It possesses workhorse attributes (no repositioning, remote from defect, long pedicle) and is extremely versatile (one is able to independently tailor the skin and muscle), making it ideal for the heterogeneous group of extensive soft tissue head and neck defects. When a forearm flap will likely be too thin or too morbid, the anterolateral thigh flap can be considered its "big brother."     

Use of the anterolateral thigh flap for reconstruction of the head and neck

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The anterolateral thigh free flap has achieved recent popularity in North America for the reconstruction of head and neck defects after ablative surgery. The flap is most often based on either the septocutaneous or musculocutaneous perforators of the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery. Its versatility allows for a subcutaneous, fasciocutaneous, myocutaneous, or adipofascial flap to be obtained. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent publications have described the utility of the anterolateral thigh flap for reconstruction of head and neck defects. It has been used successfully in the reconstruction of the laryngopharynx, oral cavity, oropharynx, external skin, and maxilla. Furthermore, when a thinner flap is needed, a suprafascial anterolateral thigh flap may be raised or the flap may be thinned after it is obtained. SUMMARY: The anterolateral thigh flap is a highly versatile and reliable flap for use in the reconstruction of various soft tissue defects of the head and neck. This flap has gained great popularity in mainland China, Taiwan, and Japan given its versatility, ability for a two-team approach, and minimal donor site morbidity. However, it has not met the same enthusiasm in Europe and North America because of the relative difficulty in perforator dissection, reported variations of the vascular anatomy, and the presumed increased thickness of the anterolateral thigh tissue in the Western population in comparison with the patient population of the Far East. These obstacles may be overcome by increased surgical experience and by the ability to create a thinner suprafascial flap or thinning the flap after it has been obtained.     

游离股前外侧肌皮瓣在上颌窦恶性肿瘤术后缺损修复中的应用

目的 探讨股前外侧肌皮瓣对上颌骨缺损修复的功能与美容效果.方法 回顾2016年6月～2017年6月股前外侧肌皮瓣修复上颌骨术后缺损的5例中晚期(T3 ～T4N0M0)上颌骨恶性肿瘤的临床资料,均行上颌骨全切及扩大切除.采用股前外侧肌皮瓣进行重建,组织量约为缺损量的1.25倍.结果 5例患者术中所取组织量在165～225 ml之间,取瓣时间80～95 min.术后皮瓣均成活,术后1个月放疗前修复侧颜面较正常侧肿胀,但放疗后双侧颜面基本对称,均无复视,鼻腔通气良好,进食正常,腿部无运动障碍.结论 应用游离股前外侧肌皮瓣修复上颌窦恶性肿瘤切除后的缺损,组织量充足可调,远期外形特别是放疗后形象优于常规仅用皮肤瓣修复者,鼻眼及进食功能好,简便易于操作.     

Use of tubed gastro-omental free flap for hypopharynx and cervical esophagus reconstruction after total laryngo-pharyngectomy

In case of total laryngo-pharyngectomy (TLP), replacement of the pharyngoesophageal segment is more often done with jejunal flap; however, in some cases, this flap doesnt represent the best surgical technique of reconstruction. The tubed gastro-omental free flap (TGO) offers an alternative procedure in selective cases. The objective of the study was to assess the TGO as a method of pharyngoesophageal reconstruction. Our study was based on a literature review and a retrospective study of six consecutive cases of TGO reconstruction after TLP. Six patients aged from 52 to 70 years underwent TGO reconstruction after TLP. Five patients had previously received systemic chemotherapy and external irradiation at curative doses, and three had undergone previous surgery. No abdominal complication occurred. Partial necrosis of the gastric flap occurred in one case. Except for this case, the feeding tube could be removed after 15 days. One patient was successfully treated with pneumatic esophageal dilatation for stricture 2 months after surgery. Four patients died of loco-regional tumor evolution or distant metastatic disease. For both of the patients who survived (mean follow-up, 40 months), a normal diet and an esophageal voice were obtained. The TGO offers a safe method of reconstructing the pharyngoesophageal segment in a surgical field compromised of previous multimodal therapy.     

Clinical implications of anterolateral thigh flap shrinkage

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate anterolateral thigh flap shrinkage after elevation and to develop a predictive model for flap design. METHOD: A prospective study was conducted in a university teaching hospital. The skin islands from anterolateral thigh flaps were outlined on a transparent sheet before and after the reconstruction procedure. Dimensions of the stretched flaps were also recorded. These three outlines were scanned and the surface areas computed and compared by tracing and use of AutoCAD. Age, sex, flap dimension, and flap thickness were investigated for association with flap shrinkage. RESULTS: Forty-five anterolateral thigh flaps harvested for head and neck soft tissue reconstruction after tumor resection were studied. Flap size ranged from 4 to 14 cm in width and 8 to 22 cm in length; flap area ranged from 30.6 to 151.0 cm. On average, the flaps shrunk by 25.0% (6.2%-52.6%), a highly significant change (P < .01). Flap width and thickness correlated with the reduction in flap size. The average stretched-flap area was 10.1% (0.4%-29.4%) less than the preflap area, a significant reduction (P < .01). The difference between stretched-flap and preflap areas was independent of all variables. We developed a predictive model using a stepwise multiple linear regression method with a coefficient of determination of 0.495. CONCLUSIONS: Anterolateral thigh flaps shrink after harvesting, and flap width and thickness are significant contributing variables. These findings indicate that flap size must take shrinkage into account to ensure sufficient coverage.